Wanda atmosphere could be the Kie to a successful Tripp
with in short measure. Draw the curtain, nurse, this is going to hurt. They have taken only four points from a possible 36 in their last 12 league meetings with Spurs and on this evidence it’s not hard to see why.
At 72, Roy Hodgson is the oldest manager in the country. Elder statesmen deserve to draw their pensions in peace, not a ritual humiliation to send Age Concern hotlines into meltdown.
While Spurs were clinical and incisive, Palace were not just off the pace, they were all over the shop like a trolley grand prix.
First-half displays like this remove noughts from Palace crown jewel Zaha’s £80million price tag.
And Patrick Van Aanholt gave Serge Aurier more room than a flock of sheep in the outback.
One of Tottenham’s most accomplished performers inside their £1bn mother-ship of a stadium was defender Toby Alderweireld, whose passing was a revelation. Inside 10 minutes the Belgian had picked out Son to tuck his shot beyond Vicente Guaita with efficiency.
Hodgson was already reclining deep into his touchline seat, wishing he was somewhere else, when Aurier’s low cross was deflected inside the near post by Van Aanholt.
When Aurier’s deep centre was volleyed home by Son two minutes later, happy hour was in full swing.
And when Kane’s superb first-time cross was turned in by Erik Lamela three minutes before the break some of Palace’s travelling support had seen enough – and who can blame them?
The Eagles went through the motions of a fightback, Gary Cahill forcing Hugo Lloris into a reflex save, while Son went close to completing his hat-trick from an improbable angle.
Hodgson was reluctant to deny Tottenham due credit, but he said: “Nobody can be happy with our first-half performance – manager, coaching staff and players are all prepared to accept responsibility for that.
“We didn’t show the intensity I was hoping for and it was nowhere near the standard we had set ourselves.” KIERAN TRIPPIER is hoping to turn the scene of last season’s Champions League heartbreak into a happy hunting ground this season.
He could barely walk off the pitch at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium after Spurs’ defeat against Liverpool but just a few months later it is his new home at Atletico Madrid.
Trippier’s first taste of European football with Madrid could hardly be more difficult though – Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo.
But this is exactly the kind of contest and atmosphere that persuaded him to take on the challenge of becoming an Englishman abroad and finding an alternative route to Champions League glory.
“I already knew the stadium was incredible from the final last season,” said Trippier (below).
“But the passion of the Atletico fans is just amazing.
“When I made my debut it was vocal for the full 90 minutes. And when we went 2-0 down against Eibar the other day they were still leading us on.
“They were like a 12th man and no matter what stadium you have got, especially ours, the atmosphere is fierce.
“I needed a new challenge like this, the next chapter in my life and career. Atletico gave me that opportunity and I just want to do as well as I can for the club.
“It’s a new league, a new chapter, a new challenge and most importantly one I am willing to take on.”
Just like Trippier’s former club Spurs, Atletico and Juventus have both lost in the Champions League Final in recent seasons and have both heavily invested in the hope of triumph this time round.
He added: “You want to play against the best players in the world and Juventus are certainly one of them.
“Ronaldo’s record is there for everyone to see. He is a world-class player, one of the greatest ever. It’s not just him, there are quality players there but we have a very good team as well.”
Atletico are a side built on solid foundations under the intense philosophy of Diego Simeone.
It’s impossible to believe that Trippier won’t improve under his guidance and the England full-back thinks the process began the instant he arrived in Madrid.
“It all starts with the manager,” he said.
“He is very demanding in training, the drills individually and in the group. Every single minute is very demanding.
“In the two months I have been there I have learnt so much already and I feel like I’ve been there for ages.
“You have seen Atletico over the years, they been solid as a unit in the back four. It all starts with the manager.”
He added: “We are a tough team to beat and hopefully we can be tougher this season.
“Everyone knows how competitive the Champions League is.
“Atletico and Juve have played against each other over the past couple of years. It’s going to another big game
for us.”